The parent company of Ray's Food Place announced yesterday that it will be permanently closing its Yreka Ray's store in less than two weeks.

C&K Market, Inc., based in Brookings, Ore., said the store located at 121 Montague Road will close its doors at 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 7.

Greg Sandeno, president and chief executive officer, stated: "We would like to thank the Yreka community for its support of our Ray's store over the past 23 years and remind everyone that C&K Market also operates Shop Smart Foods in Yreka, which will remain open and ready to serve customers seeking a local choice for groceries."

According to a press release, an increased presence of retail competitors has forced what the company called "the difficult decision to close the doors of the Yreka location."

"Our intent is to offer jobs, within our family of stores, to all current employees," said Sandeno.

Erich Gisler is a Yreka resident and regular Ray's customer. He said he'll miss the business and its employees.

"This was a nice store, and the people were helpful and really nice. We knew a couple of the people who worked here. It's too bad, we'll miss it," Gisler said. He blamed Walmart for pushing smaller businesses out of town.

Another customer, who prefered to not be named, said she doesn't have a car and the store's proximity to her home on the north end of Yreka was convenient.

"I'll have to take the bus or walk all the way down to Shop Smart now," she said. "It's a shame to see it go."